# U n i t e d S t a t e s C o u r t o f A pp e a l s

For the Eig hth Circu it

_ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

No . 1 8 -3 6 51

_ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

M ari o M eji a-Lo p ez; Si l v i a Lo ren a Ro d as -Ord o n ez; Eri ck Fern an d o M eji a-Ro d as ;

M ey l i n Lo ren a M eji a-Ro d as ; Lu i s M ari o M eji a-Ro d as

l l l l l l ll l l l l l l l l l l l l l Pet i t i on er s

v

.

W i l l i am P. Barr, At to rn ey

Gen eral o f t h e Un i t ed St at es

l l l ll l l l l l l l l l l l l l l ll Res

po n den t

_

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Pet i t i o n fo r Rev i ew o f an Ord er o f t h e

Bo ard o f Im m ig rat i on Ap peal s

_

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Su bm i t t ed : Sep tem

ber 2 4, 2 0 19

Fi l ed : Decem

b er 1 1 , 2 0 1 9

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

Befo re SM ITH, Ch i ef J u d g e, BEAM an d ERICKSON, Ci rcu i t J u d ges

.

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

SM ITH, Ch i ef J u d g e.

Pet i t i o ners s eek rev i ew of t h e Bo ard o f Im m i g rat i o n Ap p eal s’ (BIA) den i al o f

t h ei r req u es t fo r hu m an i ta r ian as y l u m

. M ari o M eji a-Lo pez an d Si l vi a Ro d as -Ord o nez

are t h e p aren t s o f Eri ck Meji a-Ro d as

, Mey l i n M eji a-Ro d as

, an d Lu is M eji a-Ro d as

,

an d t h ey s eek as y l u m fo r th em s el v es an d t h e i r ch i l dren

. Th ey co n t en d t h at t h e BIAerred i n req u i ri n g t hat t h ey s h ow p as t p ers ecu t i o n o n acco u n t o f a p ro t ect ed g ro u n d

as a p rereq u i s i t e fo r o b t ai ni n g h u m an i t ari an as y lu m

. Pet it i on ers al so req u es t t h at we

rem an d t h i s cas e t o th e BIA f o r f u l l d ev el o p m en t o f t h e reco rd o n

t h ei r h um an i t ari an -as y lu m cl ai m . W e d en y

t he p et i t i o n fo r rev i ew.

I. Ba ckg r o u n d

Pet i t i o ners are n at i v es an d ci t i zen s o f Gu a t e m a l a

. On o r ab o u t Oct o b er 3 1,

2 0 1 6

, pet i ti o n ers reach ed t he Un i t ed St at es -M ex i co b o rd er i n El Pas o

, Tex as

.

Pet i t io n ers d i d n ot p res en t v al i d en t ry o r t rav el d o cu m en t s u p o n ap p ly i n g fo r

ad m i s s i o n an d

, t h erefo re, were p aro l ed i n to t h e U n i t e d St at es

. Th e Dep art m en t o f

Ho m el an d Secu ri t y (DHS) s i m ul t an eo u s ly s erv ed p et i t i o ners wi th a n ot i ce t o ap p ear

(NTA), w h ich ch arg ed pet i t i o n ers wi t h b ei n g rem o v ab le p u rs uan t t o t h e Im m i g rat i o n

an d Nat i o n al i t y A ct (INA) § 2 1 2 (a)(7 )(A)(i ) ( I )

. S e e 8 U.S.C. § 11 8 2(a)(7 )(A)(i )(I).

Pet i t io n ers res i d ed i n Cart h ag e, M i s so u ri

. In J an u ary 2 01 7

, DHS fi l ed t he NTA i n t h e

Im m ig rat i o n Co u rt in Kan s as Ci t y

, M is s ou ri

, i n i ti at i n g fo rm al rem o v al p ro ceed i ng s

ag ai n s t p et i t i o n ers

.

In J u n e 2 0 1 7

, pet i t i o ners ad m i t t ed t o al l fact u al al l eg a t i o n s i n t h e NTA,

co n ced ed rem o v ab il i t y

, an d decl i n ed t o d es i g n at e a co u n try o f rem o v al

. Th e

i m m i g rat i o n ju d g e (IJ ) des ig n at ed Gu at em al a a s t h e c o u nt ry o f rem ov al

, an d

p et i t i o n ers i n fo rm ed t h e IJ t h at t h ey wo u l d ap p l y fo r as y lu m

an d o t her rel i ef.

Pet i t i o ners cl ai m ed t h at t h ey q u al i f i e d f o r as y l um b as ed o n (1 ) t h ei r

m e m b ers h i p i n t wo p art i cu l ar s o ci al g ro u p s (PSG) an d (2 ) t h ei r po l i t i cal o p i n i o n s

.

M ey l i n al l eg ed t h a t s h e h ad s u ffered p as t p ers ecu t io n as a m em b er o f “ fem al e

ch i l d ren s u b

ject ed t o rap e wi t h in a s o ci et y wh ere t h e s u b o rd i n at i o n an d d ev al u at i o n

o f wo m en by m en h a[v e] al l o wed t h em t o b e sex u al l y p ers ecu t ed wi th g o v ern m en t

s a n c t i o n e d i m

p u n i t y .” Pet ’ rs ’ Br. at 5 (q u o t in g Ad m i n

. R. at 4 ). Th e rem ai n i n g

p et i t i o n ers s t at ed t hat th ey are m em b ers o f on e fam il y

an d av erred p as t p ers ecu t i o n

b as ed o n t h ei r k i n s h i p t o M ey l i n

. Pet i t i o n ers ex p l ai ned t h at a m an h ad rap ed M ey l in

-2

-w h en s h e was 1 3 y ears o l d

. Th ey al l eg ed t h at t he p erp et rat o r’ s su p po rt ers h ad

t h reat en ed t o k i l l p et i t i o n ers if t h ey p u rs ued cri m i n al ch arg es

. Th e t h r e at s cau s ed

p et i t i o n ers t o seek refu g e i n th e Un i t ed St at es

. Th ey al s o co n t en d ed t h at t h e o rd eal

h as t rau m at i zed M ey l i n an d affect ed h er wel l -b ei n g.

In ad d i t io n

, p et i ti o n ers as s ert ed t h at t h ey h ad b een p ers ec u t e d b as ed o n t h ei r

p o l i t ical o p i n i o n s

. Acco rd i n g t o p et it i o n e r s

, t h ey ex p res s ed th ei r p o li t ical op i n i on s

wh en M ey l i n h ad res i st ed t h e p erp et rat o r’ s ab u s e b y rep o rt i n g M ey l in ’ s rap e t o l aw

en fo r c e m e n t an d p u rs ui n g cri m i n al ch arg es

. Pet i t i o n ers cl ai m ed th at th ei r al l eg ed

p o l i t ical o p i n i o n s h ad i n d u c e d t h e t h reat t h at t h ey recei v ed fro m t h e p erp et rat o r’ s

s u p p ort ers

. Pet i t i o n ers al s o rel i e d o n t h e g o v ern m en t ’ s al l eg ed i n d i fferen ce t o ward

M ey l i n ’ s rap e.

Th e IJ h el d a m eri t s heari n g i n A u g us t 2 0 1 7 an d s u b s e q u en t l y d en i ed

p et i t i o n ers ’ m

u l t i p le cl a i m s fo r rel i ef. In rel ev an t p art

, t h e IJ co n cl u d ed t h at

p et i t i o n ers were n o t el i g i b l e fo r h u m an i t ari an as y l um p u rs u an t t o 8 C.F.R.

§ 1 2 0 8 .1 3 (b )(1 )(i i i ) b ecau se p et i t i o n ers h ad n o t es t ab l i s h ed pas t p ers ecu t io n b as ed o n

a p ro t ect ed gro u n d t h at is en um erat ed i n § 10 1 (a)(4 2 )(A) o f t h e I N A

. See a l s o

8 U.S.C. § 1 10 1 (a)(4 2)(A). In s u m

, th e IJ fo un d t h at p et i t i o n ers h ad n o t s h o wn t h at

t h ey were h arm ed d ue t o ei t h er M ey l i n ’ s m em b ers hi p i n h er al l eg ed PSG o r as a res u l t

o f t h ei r al l eg ed p o l i t i cal o p i n i o n s

.

Th e IJ s p eci fi cal l y fo un d t h at p et i t i o n ers h ad fai l ed t o s h o w t h at M ey li n ’ s PSG

i s co g ni zab l e as a p art i cu l ar an d s o ci al l y d i st i nct g ro u p

. Th e IJ ack no wl ed g ed g en d er

as an i m m u t ab l e ch aract eri s t i c b u t ex p lai n ed th at g en d er al o n e i s i n s u ffi ci en t to

s at i s fy t h e p art icu l ari t y req ui rem en t o f a PSG. F u r t h e r

, t h e IJ fo u nd t h at t h e

g ro u p— y o u n g g i rl s wh o h av e b een s ex u al l y ab u s ed

— i s n o t s o ci al l y d i s t i n ct

. Th e IJ

al s o fo u nd t h at o p p o s i n g p ri v at e cri m i n al act i v it y as a v i ct i m i s no t a p o l i ti cal o p i n i o n

as t h at t erm i s u n ders t o od i n i m m i g rat io n l aw. Th e IJ d i d no t ad d res s t h e o t h er al l eg ed

PSG.

-3

-Pet i t i o ners ap p eal ed t o t h e BIA. Am o n g o t h er t h i n g s

, p et it io n ers arg u ed b efo re

t h e BIA t h at t hey q u al i fi ed fo r h u m an i t ari an as y l u m b ecau se th ey wo u ld s u ffer “ o t h er

s eri ou s harm ” i f rem o ved t o G u at em al a an d t h at t h e “ o t h e r s eri o u s h arm ” d o es n ot

req u i re p ro o f o f “ harm o r p as t p ers ecu t i o n o n acco u nt o f a pro t ect ed g ro u p

. ” Pet ’ rs ’

Br. at 1 0

. Pet i t i o n ers des cri bed t h e “ o t h er seri o u s harm ” as t h e li k el i h o od o f M ey l in

co n ti n u i n g t o ex p eri en ce p o st -t ra u m a t i c st res s d is ord er, t h e po s s i b i l i t y o f M ey l in

ex h ib i t i n g carel es s b eh av i o r, an d th e ri s k o f M ey l i n co m m i t t i n g s ui ci de. Th e BIA

d en ied rel i ef an d ag reed wi t h t h e IJ

, co n cl u d i n g t h at p et it i o n ers were n o t el i g i b l e fo r

h u m an i t ari an as y lu m b ecau s e t h ey h ad fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e t h e r e q u i s i t e p as t

p ers ecu t i o n o n acco u n t o f a p ro t ect ed g ro u n d.

In d et erm i n i ng wh et h er p as t p ers ecu t i on i n co n n ect i o n wi t h a p ro t ect ed g ro u n d

ex i s t ed

, t h e BIA o n l y ad d res sed M ey l i n’ s al leg ed PS G a n d p et i ti o n ers ’ al l eg ed

p o l i t ical o p i n i on s . Th e BIA s t at ed t h e fo l l o wi ng :

[T] o b e a co g n izab l e p art i cu l ar s o ci al g ro u p fo r as y l um

. . . p u rp os es

, th e

cl ai m ed g ro u p m

u s t ex i s t i n d ep en d e n t l y o f t h e pers ecu t i o n or h arm i t s

m em b ers cl ai m t o s u ffer o r fear. Th e g ro u p fem al e ch i l d ren s u b ject ed t o

rap e i s i m p erm i s s i b l y ci rcu l ar b ecau s e it i s d efi n e d b y referen ce t o th e

p ers ecu ti o n (i .e., rap e) i t s m em b ers h av e s u ffered

.

Pet ’ rs ’ Ad d. at 4 (cl ean ed u p ). Th e BIA fu rt h er fo un d t h at M ey li n ’ s al leg ed PSG i s

d efi n ed as a ch i l dh o o d g ro u p

, th at ch i l d h oo d is n o t an i m m u t ab l e ch aract eri s t i c, an d

t h at p et i ti o n ers h ad n ot d em o ns t rat ed a n ex u s b et ween an y Gu at em al an fem al e ch i ld

t h at h ad been t arg et ed fo r p ers ecu t i o n o n acco u n t o f h er s tat u s as a rap e vi ct i m

. Th e

BIA al s o fo u n d t h at p et i t i o n ers ’ “ m ere o p p o s i t i o n t o p ri vat e cri m i n al act s d o es n o t s o

q u al i fy ” as a p o li t i cal o p i n i o n fo r as y l u m p urp o s es

. Id

.

Th e BIA d i s m is s ed p et i t i o n ers ’ en t i re ap p eal . Th i s t i m el y p et i t i on fo r rev i ew

en s u ed

, s ee 8 U.S.C. § 1 25 2 (b )(1 ), an d we h av e ju ri s di ct i o n t o rev i ew t h e BIA’ s fi n al

-4

-o rd er of rem o v al as i t rel at es to pet i t i o ners ’ h u m an i t ari an -as y l u m cl ai m

. S ee 8 U.S.C.

§ 1 25 2 (a)(1 ).

II. Di scu s s i o n

“ W e rev i ew th e BIA’ s d eci s i o n

, as i t i s t h e fi n al ag en cy d eci s i o n; h o wev er, to

t h e ex t en t t hat t h e BIA ad o p t ed t h e fi n d i n gs or t h e reas o n i ng o f t h e IJ

, we al s o rev i ew

t h e IJ ’ s d eci s io n as part of t h e fi n al ag en cy act i on .” Deg b e v. S es si on s

, 8 9 9 F.3 d 6 5 1,

6 5 5 (8 th Ci r. 2 0 18 ) (q u o t i n g Da vi l a -Mej i a v. Mu ka sey

, 5 3 1 F.3 d 6 2 4

, 6 2 7 (8 t h Ci r.

2 0 0 8 )). “ W e rev i ew th e BIA’ s l eg al d et e r m i n at i o n s d e n o v o

, acco rd i n g s u b s t an t i al

d eferen ce to t h e BIA’ s i n t erp ret at i on o f t h e s t at ut es an d reg ul at i o n s i t ad m i n i s t ers .”

Id

. (q u o ti n g Da vi l a -Mej ia

, 5 3 1 F.3 d at 6 2 7 ). As fo r t h e BIA’ s u lt i m at e den i al o f an

as y l um ap p l i cat i o n

, s u ch d eci s io n “ i s ‘c o n c l u s i v e u n les s m an i fes t ly co n t rary t o t h e

l aw an d an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n .’ ” M a mb we v. H

o l d e r

, 5 7 2 F.3 d 5 40

, 5 4 7 (8 t h Ci r.

2 0 0 9 ) (q u o t i n g 8 U.S.C. § 1 2 5 2 (b )(4 )(D)).

Pet i t i o ners ’ p ri n ci p al arg u m en t on ap p eal i s t hat a s h o wi n g o f p as t p ers ecu t i o n

b as ed o n a pro t ect e d g r o un d i s n o t req u i red as a prereq ui s i t e fo r a g ran t o f

h u m an i t ari an as y lu m

. Pet i t i o n ers al s o as s ert t h at t h i s co u rt h as o n o t h er occas i on s

ad d res s ed t h e “ o t h er seri o u s h arm ” g ro u nd f o r h u m a n i t ari an as y l u m

. Th ey co n t en d

we h av e d efi n ed t h i s gro u n d as “ h arm t h at i s n o t i n fl i ct ed o n acco u n t o f race, rel i g i o n,

n at i o n al i ty

, m em

b ers h i p i n a p art icu l ar s o ci al gro u p

, o r p o l i t i c a l o p i ni o n

, b u t i s s o

s er i o u s t h at i t eq u al s t h e sev eri t y o f p ers ecu t i on .” Pet ’ rs ’ Br. at 1 0 (q u o t i n g

Her na n d ez v. H o l der

, 5 7 9 F.3 d 8 6 4

, 8 75 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 9 ), va ca t ed i n p a rt

, 6 0 6 F.3 d

9 0 0 (8 th Ci r. 2 01 0 )). Pet i t i o n ers fu rt h er al l eg e t hat t he BIA i m pro p erl y ch aract eri zed

t h ei r cl ai m fo r h u m an i tari an as y l u m as b ei n g bas ed o n p as t p ers ecu t i o n o n l y an d t h at

t h e BIA d i d n o t p ro p erl y

d ev el o p t h e reco rd as a res u l t o f t h e m i s ch aract eri zat i o n

.

Di s cret i o n t o g ran t as y lu m t o an i nd i v i d u al wh o is co n s i dered t o b e a “ refu gee”

wi t h i n t he m ean i n g o f t he I N A r e s t s wi t h D HS o r t h e At to rn ey Gen eral

.

Ixt l i l co -Mo r a l es v. Kei s l er

, 5 0 7 F.3 d 6 5 1

, 6 5 4 (8 t h Ci r. 20 0 7 ) (q u o t i n g 8 U.S.C.

-5

-§ 1 1 5 8 (b )(1 )). “ A r e fu g ee i s d efi n ed b y t he [INA] as an al i en w h o i s u n wi l l i n g o r

u n ab l e t o ret u rn t o h i s o r h er co u n t ry o f n at i o n al i t y ‘ b ecau s e o f p ers ecu t i o n or a

wel l -fo un d ed fear of pe r se c ution on a c c ount of r a c e

, r e l i gi o n

, n at i o n al i t y

, m em b ers h ip

i n a p art i cu l ar s o ci al g ro u p

, or p o l i t i cal o p i n i o n

. ’” Id

. (ci t i n g 8 U.S.C.

§ 1 10 1 (a)(4 2 )(A)). An as y l u m ap p l i can t b ears th e b u rd en o f pro v i n g t h at s h e o r he i s

a refu gee wi t h in t h e m ean i n g o f t h e INA. 8 U.S.C. § 1 1 5 8 (b )(1 )(B)(i ).

An as y l u m ap pl ican t i s en t i t l ed t o a reb u t tab l e p res u m pt i o n o f a wel l-fo u n d ed

fear o f pers ecu t i o n aft er d em o n s t rat i n g th at th e ap p l i can t ’ s p as t pers ecu t i o n o r h arm

o ccu rred b ecau s e o f a s t at u t o ri l y p ro tect ed g ro un d

. Bu s hi r a v. Go n z a l es

, 4 4 2 F.3 d

6 2 6

, 6 3 0

– 3 1 (8 th C i r

. 2 0 0 6 ) (ci t i n g 8 C.F.R. § 2 0 8 .1 3 (b )(1 )); s ee a l s o 8 C.F.R.

§ 1 2 0 8 .1 3 (b )(1 ). 1 DHS can reb u t t h e wel l -fo u n d ed fear p res u m p t i o n

. B u sh i r a

, 4 4 2

F.3 d at 63 1 (ci t i ng 8 C.F.R. § 2 0 8 .1 3 (b )(1 )(i i)); s ee a l s o 8 C.F.R. § 1 2 0 8

. 1 3 (b )(1 )(i i ).

Bu t ev en wh en i t d o es

, an ap p l i can t m ay b e en t i t l ed to a d i s c r e t i o n ary g ran t o f

h u m an i t ari an as y l u m

p u rs u an t t o t h e fo l l o wi n g :

(i ii ) Gran t i n t h e a b s e n c e o f wel l -fo u n d ed fear o f p ers ecu t i o n

. An

ap p l ican t d e s cri b ed in p arag rap h (b )(1 )(i ) o f t h i s s ect i o n

. . . m ay be

g ran ted as y l u m , i n t h e ex erci s e o f t h e d eci si o n -m ak er’ s d i s cret i o n , i f:

(A) Th e ap p l i can t h as d em o n s t rat ed c o m p el l i n g reas o n s fo r

b e i ng u n wi l l in g o r u n ab l e t o ret u rn t o t he co u n try ar i s i n g

o ut o f t he s ev eri t y

o f t h e p as t p ers ecu t i o n ; o r

(B) Th e ap p l i can t h as es t ab l i s h ed th at t h ere i s a reas o n ab l e

p o s s ib i l i t y t h at h e o r s h e m ay s uffer o t h er s er i o u s h a r m

u po n rem o v al t o t h at co u n t ry

.

1 “ As a res u lt o f t he en act m en t of t h e Ho m el an d Secu ri t y Act o f 2 0 0 2

, 8 C.F.R.

Part 2 0 8 w as d u p l i cat ed at 8 C.F.R. Part 1 2 0 8

, wh i ch ap p l i es t o act i o n s b y t h e BIA.”

Ixt l i l co -Mo r a l es

, 5 07 F.3 d at 6 5 5 n .2

.

-6

-8 C.F.R. § 1 2 08

. 1 3 (b )(1 )(i i i )( A )

– ( B ) (em p h as is ad d ed ). Th e ap p li can t m u s t b e “ an

a l i en fo u n d to be a refu gee o n t he b as i s of p as t p ers ecu ti o n .” 8 C

. F

. R

.

§ 1 2 08 .1 3 (b )(1 )(i ). Th u s

, a h u m an i tari an -as y l u m ap p l i can t m u s t fi rs t d em o n s t rat e

refu gee s t at u s t h at i s b as ed o n a n ex u s b et w een t h e p as t p ers ecu t io n an d a p ro t ect ed

g ro u nd

— ei t h er race, rel i g i o n

, n at i o n al i t y

, m em bers h i p i n a PSG, o r po l it i cal o p i n i o n.

Id

. ; s ee a l s o 8 U.S.C. § § 1 1 01 (a)(4 2 )(A), 1 15 8 (b )(1 )(B)(i ). On ce i t i s es t ab l i s h ed t h at

t h e hu m an i t ari an -as y lu m ap p l i can t i s a refu g ee w i th i n th e m ean in g o f t h e INA, t h en

t h e ap p li can t m

us t ei t h er p ro v i d e co m

p el l i n g re a s o n s t h at rev eal wh y t h e ap p l i can t

can n ot ret u rn t o t h e co u nt ry o f rem o v al as i t rel at es t o t h e p as t p ers ecu t i o n o r p ro v e

t h at t h ere i s a reas o nab l e p o s s i b i l i t y t hat t h e ap pl i can t m ay s u ffer o t h er seri o u s h arm

i n t he co u n t ry o f rem o v al

. 8 C.F.R. § 12 0 8 .1 3 (b )(1 )(i i i ) (A)– (B). Si m p l y p u t

, a

h u m an i t ari an -as y l u m ap p li can t m u s t es tab l i s h t h at s h e o r h e i s a refu g ee bas ed o n p as t

p ers ecu t i o n. Ka n a g u v. Ho l d er , 7 8 1 F.3 d 9 1 2 , 9 1 9 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 5 ).

Pet i t i o n ers ’ p ri n ci p al arg u m en t —t h at p as t p ers ecu t i o n i s n o t req u ired as a

p rereq u i s i t e fo r o b t ai n i n g h u m an i tari an as y l u m —i s fo recl o s ed b y o u r ex i s t i n g

p reced en t

. In Ka n ag u

, th i s co u rt b ri efl y d i s cu ss ed Kan ag u ’ s arg u m en t t hat a rem an d

o f h i s cas e was warran t ed b ecau s e t h e BIA d i d n o t ad d res s h i s h u m an i t ari an -as y l u m

cl ai m

. Id

. W e h el d t hat rem an d w as n o t warran t ed b ecau s e “ h u m an it ari an as y l u m m ay

o n l y b e g ran t ed t o an al i en fo u n d t o b e a refu g ee o n th e b as i s o f p as t p ers ec u t i o n

,

m ean i n g Kan ag u’ s fai l u re t o p ro v e p e r s e c u t io n o n a pro t ect ed g ro u n d m ak es h i m

i n el i g i b l e fo r h u m an i t ari an as y l u m .” Id

. (cl ean ed u p ); s ee al s o Es en wa h v. As h cr o

f t

,

3 7 8 F.3 d 7 63

, 76 6 (8 t h Ci r. 20 0 4 ) (“ [W ] it h o ut t h e req u is it e n ex u s [,] [p et i t i o n er] d o es

n o t fi t th e s t at u t o ry t erm ‘ refu g ee’ an d t h u s i s n o t el i g ib le fo r a d i s cret io nary g ran t o f

as y l um .”).

Here, p et i t i on ers m

us t p ro v e t h at t h ey are refu g ees b as ed o n p as t p ers ecu t i o n

as p ro v i ded i n 8 C.F.R. § 1 2 08 .1 3 (b )(1 )(i )– (i i i ). See a l s o 8 U.S.C. § 1 1 5 8 (b )(1 )(B)(i ).

As d is cu s s ed

, p et i t i on e r s m u s t m ak e an i n i ti al s h o wi n g of refu g ee s t at u s by

co n nect in g p et it i o n ers ’ p as t p ers ecu t i o n t o a p ro t ect ed g ro u n d . Pet i t io n ers h av e n ot

-7

-m a d e t h at s h o wi n g

. Th erefo re, t h e BIA di d n o t ab u s e it s d i s cret i o n in d en y i n g

p et i t i o n ers ’ req ues t fo r h u m an i t ari an as y l u m

.

III. Co n cl u s i o n

Fo r t h e fo reg o i n g reas o n s , we d en y t he p et i t i o n fo r rev i ew.

__ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _

-8

-